Issa Statement on Destroyed Healthcare.gov Emails

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa  (R-Calif.) today released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) admission that senior HHS executive Marilyn Tavenner destroyed emails first subpoenaed ten months ago by the Committee related to the flawed launch of HealthCare.gov. So far, HHS has failed to comply with the Committee’s subpoena.

“Today’s news that a senior HHS executive destroyed emails relevant to a congressional investigation means that the Obama Administration has lost or destroyed emails for more than 20 witnesses, and in each case, the loss wasn’t disclosed to the National Archives or Congress for months or years, in violation of federal law,” said Chairman Issa. “It defies logic that so many senior Administration officials were found to have ignored federal recordkeeping requirements only after Congress asked to see their emails. Just this week, my staff followed up with HHS, who has failed to comply with a subpoena from ten months ago. Even at that point, the administration did not inform us that there was a problem with Ms. Tavenner’s email history. Yet again, we discover that this Administration will not be forthright with the American people unless cornered.”